Urijah Faber - California Kid

American mixed martial artist Urijah “California Kid” Faber is a native of Isla Vista, California and was born on May 14th, 1979. After standing out in every athletic endeavor he attempted during his high school years in the town of Lincoln, Faber quit his involvement in football, roller hockey and baseball to concentrate his training efforts on wrestling and mixed martial arts.

After beginning college at the University of California Davis campus with no scholarship, Faber was awarded a scholarship covering his remaining time at the university due to his supreme wrestling skills during his freshman year. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree while coaching at UC Davis on the lightweight wrestling team before beginning his professional MMA career.

Faber began wrestling in local California promotions while performing his early Brazilian jiu jitsu training and won his first match with only one month of formal instruction. After competing in and winning the Gladiator Challenge in 2004, Faber was picked up by the King of the Cage promotion, winning the KOTC World Title later that year.

After suffering his first loss to UFC lightweight fighter Tyson Griffin Faber fought with renewed energy, winning his next six matches and obtaining the a world championship belt from the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion.